Recreational structure for pools and the like



Jan. 14, 1969 J. DIEMOND ET Al- 3,421,162

RECREATIONAL STRUCTURE FOR POOLS AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 3, 1966 4-I We 1N VENTORS son/mea Gef-:Nang

A T Tok/v5 Y FIGA!- United States Patent O 7 Claims The present invention relates to recreational structures and, more particularly, to a novel structure for childrens pools and the like integrally formed from synthetic plastic sheet material.

Over the past decade, childrens pools and sandboxes thermoformed from synthetic plastic sheet material have achieved widespread acceptance, and the relatively thin sheet material used vfor such structures has favored a circular configuration since the internal pressures are distributed readily about the sidewall. Rectangular pools and sandboxes have also been made but generally have required more complex configurations and heavier guage material to resist the pressures occurring during use. Moreover, efforts to make pools of larger diameter are limited by the width of the sheet material available and the width of thermoforrning equipment.

It is an object of this invention to provide a novel recreational structure for pools and the like which is elongated and resists pressures occurring during use in a highly effective manner.

It is also an object to provide such a structure which may be integrally formed from synthetic plastic sheet material in simple thermoforming apparatus, and which is relatively inexpensive and simple to manufacture.

Another object is to provide such a structure which is rugged and long-lived, is attractive in appearance and provides a seating surface for its users.

Other objects and advantages will be readily apparent from the following detailed specification and the attached drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a water-retaining recreational structure embodying the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view thereof; and

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional View along the line 4--4 of FIGURE 3.

It has now been found that the foregoing objects and other advantages can be readily attained in a waterretaining recreational structure integrally formed from synthetic plastic with -a bottom wall, peripheral wall and top wall, with the peripheral wall being of curvilinear configuration. The curvilinear peripheral wall is defined by a plurality of circular components intersecting at apices with the chord between the apices being of lesser length than the diameter of the intersecting circular components. The peripheral wall tapers outwardly from the bottom wall and has rib portions at the apices joining the peripheral wall portions of the circular components. The top wall extends outwardly about the top of the peripheral wall and provides ledge portions extending between the circular components outwardly of the rib portions to provide a seat for users of the structure and to reinforce the structure at the apices. v

In the preferred embodiment, the peripheral wall has a cross-section defined by a multiplicity of larcuate portions intersecting to provide generally axially extending ribs for giving structural strength and rigidity thereto. In addition, a plurality of axially spaced, peripherally extending ridges are provided on the peripheral wall which give the structure the appearance of a lapped-seam construction and add to the structural strength -by giving added stiffness thereto.

To enhance the strength and rigidity thereof and to provide a skid-resistant surface, the ledge portions have a plurality of ribs formed therein which extend between the circular components generally parallel to a line drawn between the centers of the intersecting circular components. As can rbe appreciated, the ledge portions are generally triangular in shape and extend outwardly normal to the peripheral wall. The rib portions at the apices are arcuate in cross-section and diverge from the bottom wall and taper to a reduced width adjacent the top wall or ledge portions, thus providing a firm support therefor and connection between the circular components.

In accordance with the present invention, the curvilinear configuration of the structure may be provided by two, three, four or even more circular components which intersect in the manner heretofore described. For example, when utilizing two circular components, they are arranged in a generally figure-8 pattern. Three circular components may be arranged with their centers aligned or in a trilobal pattern wherein a line drawn -between the centers forms -a triangle. Four circular components may be arranged in a tetralobal configuration or arranged with their centers in alignment for an elongated configuration or in a generally trilobal arrangement with one of the lobes elongated through use of two intersecting circular components.

Although injection molding from thermoplastic materials and compression molding from thermosetting materials may be used to form the pool structure, the pool is most desirably thermoformed from synthetic plastic material such as polyethylene, nylon, polypropylene, filled polypropylene, or impact polystyrene.

Referring now in detail to the attached drawing, the illustrated pool is integrally formed with a bottom wall 10, peripheral wall 12 and top wall 14. The peripheral wall 12 is of curvilinear configuration defined generally by two generally circular, dish-shaped component portions designated by the letters A, B, which are connected by rib portions 16 at the apices or intersections therebetween. Since the chord between the rib portions 16 is of lesser length than the diameter of the circular component portions A and B, the overall internal configuration defined by the peripheral wall 12 resembles a figure 8. The lengthto-diameter ratio of the pool may be varied depending upon the desired appearance and size, and is about 1.621 in the illustrated embodiment.

To enhance the strength and rigidity of the peripheral wall 12 and to provide a desirable appearance, the crosssection of each of the circular component portions A and B is defined by a multiplicity of arcuate portions 18 intersecting to form generally axially extending ribs 20. For a similar purpose, a pair of peripherally extending ribs 22 is formed therein providing a lapped-seam appearance, and the overall result is a relatively high degree of rigidity and strength even in relatively thin sheet material. Thus, the overall appearance of the peripheral wall 12 is scalloplike. As can be seen, the peripheral wall 12 tapers outwardly from the bottom wall 10 to provide a generally frustoconical internal cross-section` The bottom wall 10 has a multiplicity of corrugations or ribs 24 formed therein to enhance the rigidity and strength thereof while also providing a highly desirable degree of skid-resistance so as to minimize the likelihood of injury. In 4the illustrated embodiment, the ribs 24 are in the form of a screen-like pattern but other patterns may be employed. In addition, ornamental designs of objects such as fish, children, etc., may be embossed therein, as well as in the peripheral wall 12.

The top wall 1'4 extends outwardly about the top of the peripheral wall 12 and terminates in a depending arcuate flange portion 26 which serves to enhance the rigidity thereof and permits etfective trimming to avoid any sharp edges. In addition, the ange portion 26 creates an impression of greater thickness for the sheet material. The sides of the top wall extend substantially parallel os as to impart a generally oval, external planar configuration to the pool and thus provide ledge portions 28 extending between the circular components A and B at the apices therebetween. These ledge portions 28 provide seats for users of the pool and are formed with a plurality of ribs 30 extending parallel to the sides of the top wall 14 and parallel to an imaginary line drawn between the centers of the circular components A and B so as to enhance the rigidity and strength thereof while also providing a desirable degree of skid-resistance.

The rib portions 16 of the peripheral wall 12 are of arcuate cross-section and diverge outwardly from the bottom wall 10 to the ledge portions 28. As best seen in FIGURE 3, it can be seen that they also taper to a reduced width at the ledge portions 28 of the top wall 14.

Thus, it can be seen that pressures within the pool will normally be distributed about the circular wall portions of the components A and B and concentrated only at the apices therebetween where they are joined by the rib portions 16. Here, the ledge portions 28 reinforce the upper end of the rib portions 16 and tend to distribute stresses by reason of their extension between the circular components A and B. The arcuate cross-section for the rib portions 16 and the reduced width -at the top wall 14 also tend to distribute stresses into the top wall 14 and -bottom Wall 10 as well as into the remainder of the peripheral wall 12.

Thus, it can be seen that the present invention provides a highly desirable water-retaining structure suitable for use by children as a pool, sandbox or the like which is highly attractive in appearance, relatively safe to use and lightweight in construction. The pool may be formed relatively economically and easily from thermoplastic sheet material and yet is rugged and long lived. By the present invention, elongated or non-circular configurations are obtainable with relatively thin side walls since the structure resists highly effectively the pressures normally occurring during use while also providing a seating surface for users.

Having thus described the invention, we claim:

1. A water-retaining recreational structure integrally formed from synthetic plastic with a bottom wall, peripheral wall and top wall, said peripheral wall being of curvilinear configuration dened by a plurality of circular components intersecting at apices with the chord between said apices being of lesser length than the diameter of the intersecting circular components, said peripheral wall having rib portions at said apices joining the peripheral wall portion of said circular components .and extending between said top wall and bottom wall,v

said top wall extending outwardly about the top of said peripheral wall and providing ledge portions extending between said circular components outwardly of said rib portions to provide a seat for users of the structure and to reinforce said structure at said apices.

2. The recreational structure of claim 1 wherein said peripheral wall has a cross-section dened by a multiplicity of arcuate portions intersecting to provide generally axially extending ribs and a plurality of axially spaced ribs extending about the periphery thereof to provide a scallop-like appearance and enhance the structural strength and rigidity of said peripheral Wall.

3. The recreational structure of claim 1 wherein said ledge portions forming seats for the users have a plurality of ribs formed therein extending between said circular components generally parallel to an imaginary line drawn between the centers of said intersecting circular components for strengthening said ledge portions and for providing a skid-proof surface.

4. The recreational structure of claim 1 wherein said plurality of circular components is two intersecting portions provioing a generally ligure-8 configuration.

5. The recreational structure of claim 1 wherein said rib portions at said apices are arcuate in cross-section and diverge from said bottom Wall and taper to a reduced width adjacent said top wall.

6. A water-retaining recreational structure integrally formed from synthetic plastic sheet material with a bottom wall, peripheral wall and top wall, said peripheral wall being of generally figure-8 configuration dened by two circular components intersecting at apices with the chord at said apices being of lesser length than the diameter of the intersecting circular components, said side wall tapering outwardly from said bottom wall and having rib portions at said apices joining the peripheral wall portions of said circular components, said rib portions being concavely arcuate in cross-section and diverging from said bottom wall and tapering to a reduced width adjacent said top wall, said top wall extending outwardly about the top of said peripheral wall and providing ledge portions extending between said circular components outwardly of said rib portions to provide a seat for users of the structure and to reinforce said structure at said apices, said peripheral wall having a cross-section dened by ya multiplicity of arcuate portions intersecting to provide generally axially extending ribs for strengthening said peripheral Wall.

7. The recreational structure of claim `6 wherein said ledge portions forming seats for the users have a plurality of ribs formed therein extending between said circular components generally parallel to an imaginary line drawn between the centers of said intersecting circular components for strengthening said ledge portions and for providing a skid-proof surface.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,886,828 5/ 1959 Lattuca 4-172 3,274,621 9/ 1966 IDiemond et al. 4-172 3,317,925 5/1967 Vance 4-172 D. 52,817 12/ 1918 Beiswanger 44-16 D. 75,303 5/ 1928 Von Elm 44-8.4 D. 195,175 5/ 1963 Greenberg 34-5 D. 205,852 9/ 1966 Greenberg et al. 34-5 D. 206,750 1/ 1967 Diemond et al 13--1 SAMUEL RA'IHBERG, Primary Examiner.

H. H. ARTIS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A WATER-RETAINING RECREATIONAL STRUCTURE INTEGRALLY FORMED FROM SYNTHETIC PLASTIC WITH A BOTTOM WALL, PERIPHERAL WALL AND TOP WALL, SAID PERIPHERAL WALL BEING OF CURVILINEAR CONFIGURATION DEFINED BY A PLURALITY OF CIRCULAR COMPONENTS INTERSECTING AT APICES WITH THE CHORD BETWEEN SAID APICES BEING OF LESSER LENGTH THAN THE DIAMETER OF THE INTERSECTING CIRCULAR COMPONENTS, SAID PERIPHERAL WALL HAVING RIB PORTIONS AT SAID APICES JOINING THE PERIPHERAL WALL PORTION OF SAID CIRCULAR COMPONENTS AND EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID TOP WALL AND BOTTOM WALL, SAID TOP WALL EXTENDING OUTWARDLY ABOUT THE TOP OF SAID PERIPHERAL WALL AND PROVIDING LEDGE PORTIONS EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID CIRCULAR COMPONENTS OUTWARDLY OF SAID RIB PORTIONS TO PROVIDE A SEAT FOR USERS OF THE STRUCTURE AND TO REINFORCE SAID STRUCTURE AT SAID APICES. 